John hill



(No Model.)

J. HILL. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHBR.

N0. 372,977. Patented Nov. 8,1887.

day

N. PETER$ Wham-Lithographer. mamm, Dv c.

1 NITED STATES PATENT tries.

JOHN HILL, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

AUTOM ATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,977; dated November8, 1887; Application filed December 2, 1886. Serial No. 220,507. (No model.)

in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for extinguishing fires in which the Water or other fluid is conducted in suitable pipes under pressure to the point or points where its use may be required, and is there automatically liberated upon the occurrence of a conflagration, the fluid being liberated by the fusion of ajoint which confines the check-valve and distributer.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a distributer to be used in automatic extinguishers of the kind shown in Letters Patent No. 283,242, granted me August 14, 1883; No. 329,741, dated November 3, 1885, and No. 329,311, dated October 27, 1885, the parts having a novel construction,whereby the escaping stream of fluid is broken up and scattered over all parts of the surrounding space, both above, below, and around the distributer-head. The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter fully set forth, and definitely pointed out in the claims annexed to this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section showing my invention, the distributerbeing illustrated by whole lines in its working position and by dotted lines in the position it occupies when the solder joint is closed. Fig. 2is a similar section illustrating the action of the parts. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of Fig. l in the line 00 m. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of Fig. 3 in the line y y. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the distributer-head of the usual form, having an outlet or port, 2, provided with a valve-seat, 3, below which isa deflector-chamber, 4. Upon opposite sides of this chamber The port 2 is closed by a valve, 8, having substantially the construction shown in Letters Patent granted me November 3, 1885, No. 329,741. This valve is mounted on a vertical stem, 9, the lower end of which is supported by a sectional plate, 10, united by a soft-solder joint, and havinga spring,l1, lying beneath it, by which, upon the fusion of the solder, the parts of the plate are thrown off the seat.

Upon the stem 9 is mounted a distributer, 12, constructed as follows: The centralportion, 13, is cup-shaped, or of the shape of the frustum of an inverted cone. This central space is surrounded by a ridge or annulus, 14, and partly surrounding the base of the outer sloping wall of this ridge is a flange, 15, which rises from the edge of the distributer and in creases in height gradually until it meets a cross-ridge, 16,which lies between the annular ridge 14 andthe end of the flange 15, and has one face, 16, sloping at an angle of about fortyfive degrees, and an opposite face, 16*, which is nearly vertical. Upon the opposite side of the distributor is a similar cross-ridge having an oppositely-inclined face and a corresponding vertical face. These cross-ridges close the groove or channel 17 between the flange 15 and the ridge 14.

It will be seen that at the point where the flange 15 joins the cross-ridge it is of equal height with said ridge and nearly as high as the annular ridge 14. From this point it decreases in height as it sweeps around the distributer until, at a point distant about thirty degrees of are from the sloping face of the cross-ridge, it wholly disappears, leaving the outer face of the annular ridge plane, as shown at 18. One of the flanges 15 is continued until it meets the sloping face of the cross-ridge, as shown in Fig. 3, and it follows that the inclination or pitch of this flange will be less than that of the other, and no plane surface is left upon the outer face of ridge 14.

The action of the device is as follows: The fluid escaping from the port under pressure is formed by the deflector on the stem 9 into an annular stream, which is dependent for its form and position upon the position of deflector in the chamber 4. The size of the disk and the position and diameter of the annular ridge 14 are such that the escaping fluid strikes vertically-upon the inclined inner and outer sides, instead of directly upon the plane central portion of the distributor inside the ridge 14. It flows outwardly over crossridges 16 and flanges 15, or inward over the plane surface of the central portion, 13, and up over the ridge on the other side. Each atom of water is directed according to the angle of the surface upon which it strikes, the law being that angles of incidence and reflection are equal. This law is modified in this case by the continuallydownpouring water, which breaks up and modifies the reflections. l.he fluid, striking at or near the outer base of the annular ridge l-l, will be reflected against the flange 15, where the latter is present, and the height of said flange will determine the angle of the second reflection caused by said flange. \Vherc said flange is highest, the fluid will be directed upward and between that point and its lowest point at various angles outward and downward.

The action of the fluid will produce a vibration or oscillation of the slem 9 and distributor 12, caused by the flow of fluid to one side of the deflector. Some portions of the fluid will fall upon the inclined faces 16" of the crossridges 16, and cause the distributer and stem on which it is mounted to rotate, so that both a revolving and oscillating movement is obtained by which the angles ofiucidence are constantly changed and multiplied, making the distribution more uniform. Somewhat similar results can be produced by means of scrrations of various forms; but the latter break up and spray the water, whereby there is a tendency to destroy the directive power of the angles of reflection, and a considerably greater pressure is required to eifect a proper distribution through the serrations. In the form I have now invented the flow is more in streams, sheets, and heavy drops, and much less power or pressure is required to give a wide and equal distribution.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is" 1. In an automatic fire-extinguisher having a chambered 0utlet,a distributor mounted upon astem, said distributor having an annular ridge surrounding a central flat space, and two edge flanges of unequal length andpitch or obliquity, each flange sweeping around the edge of the distributor to across ridge having one inclined and one vertical face,substantially as described.

2. In an automatic lire-extinguisher, a dis tributcr having a plane central surface, an aunular ridge surrounding said surlace, and flanges extending partly around the distributer and of unequal length and pitch, substantially as described.

3. lhe combination, with the distributorhead having a port, of the stem 9, having a valve closing said port, a distributcr carried bysaidstem,andhavingcircumferential flanges 15 of unequal length and pitch, a ridge, l4, and cross-ridges 16, each having an inclined face, 16", a soft-solderjoint for supporting the valve, and a seat for the lower end of the valve-stem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Joan HILL. \Vitnessesi' E. P. BURNETT, W. W. BUSSEY. 

